I'm sorry for my bad Swedish. I can understand much of what I hear or read but writing or speaking is a whole another thing. Swedish-speaking Finns are so small minority in Finland that I've never needed it in my day-to-day life.

I wonder how similar Norwegian, Icelandic and Danish languages are to Swedish language? Do people from different countries understand each other without translations? Also, I've heard that Swedes doesn't understand Finland's Swedish dialect anymore since it's prononcuation has become so different from Sweden's Swedish. Is that true?

In most situations danes, swedes and norwegians would probably be able to understand each other if you listen closely but I thinks that is becoming more normal to use english these days. Personally I am capable of reading norwegian(bokmål) and understand it to a sertan degree since I have family in Norway. I don't think most danes can understand icelandic since it quite different from the other nordic languages.

However I love Finland it is so beautiful and I would love to visit the country some day

Logged

Do not be cast down over the struggle - the Lord loves a brave warrior. The Lord loves the soul that is valiant.

I wonder how similar Norwegian, Icelandic and Danish languages are to Swedish language? Do people from different countries understand each other without translations? Also, I've heard that Swedes doesn't understand Finland's Swedish dialect anymore since it's prononcuation has become so different from Sweden's Swedish. Is that true?

I can understand Swedish (inc. Finnish pronunciation) and Danish without any problems, although I occasionally have to ask the Danes to repeat themselves (despite Danish and Norwegian bokmål being almost identical on paper, danish pronunciation is pretty slurred and can be a bit tricky to decipher). Norwegian nynorsk, based on the western dialects, would probably be quite difficult for Danes and Swedes to understand. It's a much less Danified form of Norwegian, and is much closer to Icelandic (the closest language to ancient Norse) or Faroeese than any of the other Scandinavian languages are.

It's interesting to hear that there are two kinds of standards for Norwegian language. Finland has been intentionally built as a rather homogenous country so it's always interesting to hear different kind of societies exists even as our neighnours. Finnish written language was originally built on basis of Western dialects but it subsequently adopted also more Eastern influences but it's not so far-fetched to think that there could be two standards also to Finnish language since there are some variety between different dialects.

And I'd like to visit in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries some day. It could be interesting to see how other Scandinavian countries are different from Finland.

Finland has always seemed like a country stuck somewhere between Nordic and Russian culture, I've never visited it, but that's just the feeling I get.

That's what I was thinking too. I guess were rather Eastern originally but then Sweden's conquest and 19th century's Nationalism which tried to get rid of everything that hints to Russia made us part of Scandinavia. I believe Finnishness was formed on basis of Western Finland but then the Eastern parts were socialized into that Western construction even though they retain their Eastern culture and dialect. It's a rather interesting combination.

And when you add Lapland into this equation it gets even more interesting. I recall being in some lecture where lecturer pointed out amusingly that it's a little funny that Finland is advertised for tourists as a land of Lapland since Lapland has been considered a sort of backwoods of Finland by Finns themselves.

And I'd like to visit in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries some day. It could be interesting to see how other Scandinavian countries are different from Finland.

Finland has always seemed like a country stuck somewhere between Nordic and Russian culture, I've never visited it, but that's just the feeling I get.

That's what I was thinking too. I guess were rather Eastern originally but then Sweden's conquest and 19th century's Nationalism which tried to get rid of everything that hints to Russia made us part of Scandinavia. I believe Finnishness was formed on basis of Western Finland but then the Eastern parts were socialized into that Western construction even though they retain their Eastern culture and dialect. It's a rather interesting combination.

And when you add Lapland into this equation it gets even more interesting. I recall being in some lecture where lecturer pointed out amusingly that it's a little funny that Finland is advertised for tourists as a land of Lapland since Lapland has been considered a sort of backwoods of Finland by Finns themselves.

To be honest, Finland should be increadibly proud of their culture and how they are different from just about everyother country.

Is that because Lapland is nothing but mountains and snow? Do any Sami live in Lapland?

Is that because Lapland is nothing but mountains and snow? Do any Sami live in Lapland?

Yes for both. Actually it could be possible that Lapland was considered backwoods just because of Samis. Majorities tend to discriminate minorities.

Quote

On a sidenote, how Orthodox is Finland? I'm curious.

Not much. Back in the days it was basically ethnic religion of Karelians and Russians. When one converted to Lutheranism from Orhodoxy that basically meant also a change of national identity i.e. a Russian became a Finn. An idea that one can be a Finn and an Orthodox was born when Finland was annexed to Russia in the beginning of 19th since the emperor's religion became a tolerated religion. Still, it remained basically as an ethic religion. When Finland became independent Orthodoxy got her status as another state religion probably because politicians wanted socialize Karelians as a part of mainstream Finnish society. Still, Finland remained and still is a mostly Lutheran country. The president participates in a some prayer service during the independence day and we have church tax etc. but that's just about it.

Orthodoxy's ethnic trait has started to fade only in recent decades. When Soviet Union conquered much of Eastern Finland the inhabitants were evaquated everywhere in Finland. Amusingly Orthodoxy has become even a little trendy probably because influx of converts and because people deem her a little exotic and different from the regular Finnishness but still more stable and safe. Still, only 1,1% of Finns are Orhodox Christians.

It's interesting to hear that there are two kinds of standards for Norwegian language. Finland has been intentionally built as a rather homogenous country so it's always interesting to hear different kind of societies exists even as our neighnours. Finnish written language was originally built on basis of Western dialects but it subsequently adopted also more Eastern influences but it's not so far-fetched to think that there could be two standards also to Finnish language since there are some variety between different dialects.

Bokmål (book-language) is essentially a Norwegianised form of Danish, which was the standard written language in Norway until very recently due to the longstanding union between the two countries. Nynorsk (new Norwegian) was developed in the 19th century as an alternative and more authentically Norwegian orthography. While Bokmål continues to be the more commonly used written form, Nynorsk being more or less confined to the western regions, the majority of people speak a wide variety of local dialects which often differ considerably from either written form.

Nynorsk too underwent some minor adjustment in the mid-20th century to even out some of the differences between the two orthographies, although it still remains very distinct. Ivar Aasen's original form is now commonly referred to as Høgnorsk (high-Norwegian).

Orthodoxy's ethnic trait has started to fade only in recent decades. When Soviet Union conquered much of Eastern Finland the inhabitants were evaquated everywhere in Finland. Amusingly Orthodoxy has become even a little trendy probably because influx of converts and because people deem her a little exotic and different from the regular Finnishness but still more stable and safe. Still, only 1,1% of Finns are Orhodox Christians.

That's amazing, I don't know why, but I thought Finland was higher Orthodox. I guess because they have an autonomous church.

And I'd like to visit in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries some day. It could be interesting to see how other Scandinavian countries are different from Finland.

Finland has always seemed like a country stuck somewhere between Nordic and Russian culture, I've never visited it, but that's just the feeling I get.

That's what I was thinking too. I guess were rather Eastern originally but then Sweden's conquest and 19th century's Nationalism which tried to get rid of everything that hints to Russia made us part of Scandinavia. I believe Finnishness was formed on basis of Western Finland but then the Eastern parts were socialized into that Western construction even though they retain their Eastern culture and dialect. It's a rather interesting combination.

And when you add Lapland into this equation it gets even more interesting. I recall being in some lecture where lecturer pointed out amusingly that it's a little funny that Finland is advertised for tourists as a land of Lapland since Lapland has been considered a sort of backwoods of Finland by Finns themselves.

To be honest, Finland should be increadibly proud of their culture and how they are different from just about everyother country.

Is that because Lapland is nothing but mountains and snow? Do any Sami live in Lapland?

On a sidenote, how Orthodox is Finland? I'm curious.

My husband is part Saami, but he looks like a blonde Greek. However, his sister and brother have very strong Saami features. His parents came from Norway (mom) and N.E. Sweden (dad). N.E. Sweden apparently had quite a few Saami people living there.